10 Notable alumni of Pondicherry University
Updated: June 06, 2026 EliteDegrees
Pondicherry University is ranked #1,885 in the world and #36 in India by aggregated alumni prominence. Below is the list of 10 notable alumni from Pondicherry University sorted by their wiki pages popularity. The directory includes famous graduates and former students along with research and academic staff. Many individuals affiliated with Pondicherry University won Nobel Prizes for Peace, in Physics, Chemistry, Physiology or Medicine, and Economics.
1. Pramod Payyannur
1971-. (aged 55)
film director
Pramod Payyannur is an Indian director and writer who works in Malayalam theater. He has directed the film Balayakala Sakhi based on Vaikom Mohammad Basheer's novel Balyakalasakhi, which acted by Mammootty, Isha Talwar,Seema Biswas, Meena, KPAC Lalitha and Mamukkoya. Pramod was the writer of Vishwaguru, the film was recorded in Guinness World Records as the fastest film produced. The film...
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2. Deepan Sivaraman
scenographer
theatrical director
Deepan Sivaraman is an Indian theatre director, scenographer and academic. He is the founder of Oxygen Theatre Company based in Delhi. He is from Thrissur, Kerala.
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3. Sushrut Badhe
1990-. (aged 36)
poet
Sushrut Badhe is an Indian author, researcher of Sanskrit scriptures, and manufacturer of Ayurvedic products. He has rewritten Sanskrit scriptures, including the Bhagavad Gita and three Upanishads—Isha, Kena, and Mandukya—in rhymed English.
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4. Ma Ka Pa Anand
1981-. (aged 45)
television presenter
Ma Ka Pa Anand is an Indian actor and television presenter. He has hosted Super Singer, Athu Ithu Ethu, Kings of Dance, KPY Champions, Mrs. Chinnathirai, The Wall, Cinema Kaaram Coffee, Start Music and Oo Solriya Oo Oohm (no)Solriya. Anand previously worked as a radio jockey at Radio Mirchi. He started his acting career with the film Vanavarayan Vallavarayan in...
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5. Elango Kumaravel
1965-. (aged 61)
actor
screenwriter
Elango Kumaravel is an Indian actor, writer and a co-founder of the Chennai-based theatre group "Magic Lantern". He is an alumnus of Pondicherry University's Sankaradas Swamigal School of Performing Arts and the Chennai-based theatre workshop koothuppattarai. He has also worked as a casting assistant for the 2007 film Loins of Punjab Presents and wrote the script for the 2008 film...
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6. N. Rangasamy
1950-. (aged 76)
politician
Natesan Krishnasamy Gounder Rangaswamy is an Indian politician who is serving as the Chief Minister of Puducherry since May 2021. He has previously served as the chief minister from 2001 to 2008 and from 2011 to 2016. He is the founding president of the political party All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), which was formed after a breakaway from the Indian...
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7. Kodiyeri Balakrishnan
1953-2022 (aged 69)
politician
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan was an Indian politician of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was the secretary of the CPI(M) Kerala State Committee from 2015 to 2022. He stepped down from the position of state secretary due to his failing health. He was the chief editor of the Malayalam newspaper Deshabhimani, the organ of the Kerala State Committee of the...
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8. Kesava Reddy
1946-2015 (aged 69)
physician
Kesava Reddy was a Telugu novelist. Hailing from Andhra Pradesh state in India. In his writings he addresses many of the important social problems in India like poverty, prejudices, and superstitions, and encourages people to be socially responsible. He successfully bridges the idealistic and the popular styles of literature. His novel "Athadu Adavini Jayinchadu" was one of his major writings....
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9. Lijomol Jose
1992-. (aged 34)
actor
television actor
Lijomol Jose is an Indian actress who primarily appears in Malayalam and Tamil films. She earned critical acclaim for portraying Senggeni in the Tamil film Jai Bhim, which won her the Filmfare Award for Best Actress – Tamil.
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10. Garikapati Narahari Sastry
1966-. (aged 60)
chemist
Garikapati Narahari Sastry is an Indian Chemist and a Professor at the Department of Biotechnology at IIT-Hyderabad. He served as Director of CSIR- North East Institute of Science and Technology, Jorhat Jorhat, Assam from 19 February 2019 and served there till 10 January 2024. After taking charge as the Director, he has worked towards converting knowledge in the areas of...
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